Monday, May 12, 2014

From 1973, Conan the Barbarian #32, "Flame Winds of Lost Khitai!" Written and edited by Roy Thomas, based on a story by Norvell Page, with art by John Buscema and Ernie Chua, aka Ernie Chan.

This month, Conan's in the eastern land of Khitai, the city of Wan Tengri; which is ruled by a band of wizards. After stealing some gems, they disappear from a merchant's hand, who explains that no one knows the wizards' true identity, which keeps anyone from stealing anything: a wizard can simply summon his stolen goods back. Conan is a little dubious of this story, but is interrupted by the town guard.
Conan discovers a secret room, with the merchant's women, but no exit. One of the women suggests leaving through an underwater tunnel, and Conan's willing to give it a shot.
That the woman turns out to be a tentacled monster is a bit surprising, and Conan usually is a bit too chivalrous than to stab a woman, but sometimes needs must.

This issue was shortly after the book's original artist, Barry Windsor-Smith, had left the book. I think there was some doubt at the time whether the book could continue without Smith, but it would for about 200 issues and some.